Geraint Thomas OUT of Giro d'Italia: Team Sky rider crashed on Sunday
GERAINT THOMAS has pulled out of the Giro d'Italia after his crash last Sunday.
Geraint Thomas has been forced to withdraw from the Giro d'Italia
Team Sky hoped lead rider Geraint Thomas would continue with the race following Sunday's incident.
"I've been suffering since my crash on Sunday," Thomas said.
"I've had an issue with my shoulder which is manageable, but my knee has also been getting worse each day.
"Obviously it's never nice to leave a race early, especially when it's your main goal of the season, but I have to look at the bigger picture.
"I'd love to continue, but it would be a case of trying to survive each day rather than racing.
"I'll turn my attention to the Tour de France now, and I want to arrive there with the same good form I started the Giro with."
Thomas was injured in the crash on Sunday
Team Sky's Thomas (right) was second in the Giro when the crash on Sunday happened
Welshman Thomas had started the ninth stage of the Giro d'Italia in second place.
But he fell during a pile-up involving a police motorbike
Thomas had a scan on Monday got back on his bike to finish second in Tuesday's time trial.
But by Thursday the Team Sky rider had fallen six minutes and 46 seconds behind race leader Tom Dumoulin and the decision was made this morning to end his tour.